Position: Center

Team: Metropolitans 92

Height: 223 cm / 7’4”

Weight: 103 kg / 227 lbs

Wingspan: 244 cm / 8’0”

Born: January 4, 2004

We saved the best for the last. There is already so much written about Victor Wembanyama that you are probably already familiar with him and his game. Victor is really unique in many ways and I highly believe that he can become a special player and go in the history books as one of the best to ever touch the “orange ball.” He showed what he is capable of with leading Metropolitans to the finals in French league and winning the regular season MVP award. He also won the Best Young Player, Best Defender, Best Scorer and Best Blocker award… he took all possible regular season awards. Now it is time for the next step in his career and to play against the “big boys.”

STATS

  • Averages:

44 games, 32:11 min, 20.6 pts, 10.1 reb (1.8 off reb), 2.5 ast, 0.8 stl, 3.0 blk (55.2% 2P%, 27.1% 3P%, 82.4% FT%)

  • Per40:

25.6 pts, 12.6 reb (2.2 off reb), 3.1 ast, 1.0 stl, 3.7 blk

  • Advanced Stats:

111.4 ORTG, 100.8 DRTG, 57.2 TS%, 6.3 OREB%, 27.4 DREB%, 17.4 REB%, 14.7 AST%, 1.3 STL%, 9.5 BLK%

STRENGTHS

  • Scoring versatility – he can score in any imaginable way and it is not easy to defend him
  • Ball handling skills – his ball handling skills are great for a player his size, can bring the ball over, play isolation or create separation
  • Playmaking ability – shown many times this season that his baskeball IQ and passing skills are on elite level. Makes great passes out of post ups if double teammed
  • Defensive upside – has the tools to be an all-time great defender, makes impact as rim protector
  • Instincts – makes quick decisions and reads, great timing for blocks and rebounds
  • Physical tools – measurements, agility, mobility, flexibility, athleticism… it looks like every piece of the puzzle is at the right place 

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

  • Shooting – his percentages and especially the shot selection has room to improve
  • Defending in space & closeouts – due to his high hips he can have a hard time with rotating and changing directions quick enough in defense; can be exploited in PnR and PnP defense
  • Post up defense – struggles defending physical players down low
  • Engine not always running – sometimes doesn’t go actively for rebounds or returns to defense after a turnover
  • Turnovers – sometimes wants to show too much or too advanced stuff and that results in turnovers

OUTLOOK 

I don’t know what should happen that San Antonio doesn’t pick Victor Wembanyama as the #1 pick and I believe that this is one of the easiest draft decisions in more than 10 years. NBA Draft is more or less about the upside of a player and Victor’s upside is higher than the sky. There were many cases in last seasons of players with lanky body types coming into the draft and even though their offensive game was raw or not quite developed, NBA teams took the gamble due to the high upside of the player. Victor’s story is much different since he has proven over and over again that he can play and that he is among the most skilled players in this draft already but can still improve in all technical aspects of the game. So his “floor” is very high but not many players in the history of the game are able to come close to his “ceiling.” I believe that Victor has the potential to be one of the best players that ever touched the “orange ball” if he just stays healthy!